Also sentenced Tuesday was Tracy resident Andy Blea, 45, who was sentenced to seven years in prison following his guilty plea to several drug- and identity theft-related charges. According to Riebe, visiting judge Don Howard was not sympathetic to Blea’s appeal for leniency  and handed down the maximum sentence allowed.

The charges stem from the arrest of Blea and a companion at the Jackson Rancheria Casino where Blea was detained for possession of methamphetamine. Blea falsely gave the name of James Ramsey when he was booked, and after failing to make a court appearance, a warrant was issued for James Ramsey, causing the real James Ramsey to be arrested. It was quickly determined that Ramsey was the victim of false personation – Ramsey identified Blea as a person he had worked with in the past. That information led to Blea’s arrest. Blea has a long criminal record and was on felony probation for driving under the influence causing injury at the time he committed the offenses in Amador County.